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Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Col. Frank Milstead speaks at a news conference in Phoenix on Thursday, July 26, 2018, while flanked by officers and a picture of slain DPS Trooper Tyler Edenhofer. Authorities say a male suspect used a state trooper's gun and fatally shot Edenhofer and wounded another trooper Wednesday night after reports of someone throwing rocks at vehicles. (AP Photo/Terry Tang)

Troopers: Suspect in Arizona rookie's death was mentally ill

July 26, 2018 - 8:59 pm

The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — A man with a history of mental illness grabbed an Arizona state trooper's gun and killed a rookie in training and wounded another trooper during a fight along an interstate in suburban Phoenix, authorities said Thursday.

The shooting occurred after troopers responded to reports late Wednesday of a person throwing rocks at vehicles on Interstate 10 roughly 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of downtown Phoenix. Motorists had also pulled over to try to get the suspect off the road, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety officials.

A fight ensued when troopers tried to get 20-year-old Isaac D. King off the roadway. Trooper Tyler Edenhofer, 24, was shot and killed during the struggle. He was in his last week of field training.

"He'd been one of my troopers for 52 days," said DPS Col. Frank Milstead.

King was transported to a hospital, where he remained Thursday. Authorities would not say why he was hospitalized. It was not clear if he has an attorney to speak on his behalf.

King, who lives in Avondale, was on medication for anxiety and depression and has no criminal record, Milstead said.

"We've talked to his parents, his mother particularly who has been cooperative and thought he was in the backyard during this event," Milstead said. "She said at about 9:30 p.m., he'd been outside on the trampoline."

Six officers, including some local police, were struggling with the suspect for several minutes when he somehow got a hold of the Trooper Sean Rodecap's weapon. Rodecap is a field training officer who was not wearing a uniform. King then fired two shots, Milstead said.

One hit Edenhofer in the shoulder but ricocheted downward, DPS spokesman Capt. Tony Mapp said. Trooper Dalin Dorris was shot through the shoulder, treated at a hospital and released.

Rodecap was injured, but not shot, in the fight.

Whether the weapon became dislodged or how King was able to fire it is under investigation, Milstead said. It was in a standard leather holster tethered to the officer's belt.

"We're all in a little bit of a state of shock," Milstead said. "The DPS family is in mourning."

Edenhofer was killed just two months after graduating from the Department of Public Safety academy. The U.S. Navy veteran was engaged to be married.

Edenhofer's body was taken in a procession to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office.

Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state office buildings to be flown at half-staff until sunset Friday.

"This tragedy is an all-too-real and heartbreaking reminder of the harm our heroic law enforcement officers face each and every day for the safety and well-being of Arizonans," Ducey said in a statement.

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Associated Press writer Paul Davenport contributed to this report.

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This version corrects that the trooper's last name is Edenhofer, not Endenhofer.